My editing experience and detailed knowledge of English grammar, syntax, and punctuation will add clarity and professionalism to your paper or online documents.
General
First name
Len
Country
United States
City
Silver Spring
Profile
I write and edit informative articles, press releases, web content, newsletter contributions, technical documents, and various letters as a freelance writer. Many of my articles are highly rated on Helium.com and include such subjects as communication, grammar, writing skills, geography, homeland security, the federal workplace, travel, and entertainment.
Writing and rating for Helium.com has provided an excellent opportunity for me to practice proofreading and spotting discrepancies in other authors’ articles. Aside from naturally being able to spot misspellings and general misuse of punctuation, I also keep in mind many of Helium’s style conventions and suggestions. These include a 400-1500 word count window, including references (for non-opinion articles), and maintaining a legible format (i.e. space between paragraphs).
When proofreading a document (almost daily), I try to read from the intended audience’s perspective. This is usually the general population. If a possible question is not answered, or if an instruction or term does not make sense, I will ask the author to expound.
I operate my own freelance copywriting/editing business web site, geared towards precise communication within and among businesses and individuals. Currently, the focus is on web content (text and design), press/news releases, advertising, and articles.
If I am dealing with resumes, recommendation letters, or some other self-promoting document, I make sure all details are included. I will ask about seemingly minor details of the subject’s work to jog his/her memory, in an effort to provide a complete account of his/her accomplishments.
I currently author and manage two community music ensemble newsletters, writing feature articles (some technical, some not), announcements, and calendar items based on the needs of each ensemble. I also strive to improve the newsletter formats: I recently switched formats from Word to HTML, posted the newsletter on my web page, and added graphics.
I am aware of when to use the appropriate voice for a particular article style. Knowing your audience is paramount when deciding how to convey your data, ideas, or feelings. For instance, many authors on Helium.com write “how-to” articles on various subjects, and some interject their opinions when they should not. Suitability is an important component of writing that must fit within the paradigm of writing.
Other details that I strive to improve are appropriate capitalization, word choice, and the flow/structure/length of sentences and paragraphs. I always keep in mind the differences between online readers and paper readers, since web users have a much shorter attention span than those who read actual newspapers, magazines, and books. I have also used the Chicago Manual of Style to double-check writing rules.
I currently use Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat for all of my writing and editing projects, both for ease of use and compatibility with other users. These daily and monthly projects include news articles, resumes, pamphlets, organizational charts, and printable versions of newsletters. For weekly and monthly graphic-intense projects, such as web pages, flyers, and book cover backgrounds, I use Adobe Illustrator.
